A Georgia judge ruled on Friday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will not be disqualified from the Trump election interference case, as long as the special prosecutor she had a romantic relationship with, Nathan Wade, steps aside. The ruling by Judge Scott McAfee came after a defense motion sought to disqualify Willis and dismiss the racketeering indictment against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. The defense argued that Willis financially benefited from hiring Wade as a special prosecutor, claiming that their affair began before Wade was hired in November 2021. However, both Willis and Wade testified that their romantic relationship started in early 2022 and ended last summer.

Despite acknowledging the romantic relationship, the judge rejected the motion to disqualify Willis, stating that there was no evidence of an actual conflict of interest that impacted the case. The defense team failed to prove that Willis had a personal stake in the prosecution or that her financial arrangements with Wade influenced the case. Senior Assistant District Attorney Adam Abbate argued that the relationship between Willis and Wade was irrelevant to the case and did not hinder the trial.

The Georgia probe into election interference alleges that Trump and his co-defendants conspired to change the 2020 election results in the state. While the case does not yet have a trial date, it is considered the strongest case against Trump and the only one that he cannot be pardoned from. McAfee recently dismissed six charges against Trump and his co-defendants, including three directly involving the former president. Trump's attorney, Steve Sadow, expressed disappointment in the ruling and vowed to continue fighting to end the case.

During the hearings leading up to McAfee's decision, witnesses provided conflicting testimonies about the timeline of Willis and Wade's relationship. A former friend of Willis testified that the couple started dating in 2019, while Wade's former law partner suggested that the relationship began earlier. However, the defense argued that the evidence presented was not conclusive and did not prove improper conduct on the part of Willis or Wade.

Despite the controversy surrounding the romantic relationship between the district attorney and the special prosecutor, McAfee's decision allows Willis and her office to continue prosecuting the case if Wade steps aside. The ruling may have saved the case from derailment and ensures that the investigation into election interference will proceed as planned.